Dorfer



vJ. HOFFMAN.

(No Model.)

LEAD' AND' GRAYUN 'HOLDER- By Ils' Afforney N. PETERS. Phommnugnphur,wasningwn, DIC.

. UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JOSEPH HOFFMAN, OE New YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOE To JOSEPH EEOKEN- DOEEEE,OE SAME PLACE.

LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,456, dated July 18,1882.

Application tiled March 28,1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH HOFFMAN, of

the city, county, andState of New York, have ncction with a stationaryratchet attached lo or forming part ot' the sheath, and a pawl attachedto the lead-carrier, which serves as a means for retaining in positionthe lead-carrier during the return movement ot' the propellinginstrumentality. 'The follower-tube has sufficient frictional contactwith the carv rier to cause the latter to partake of its movement,except when prevented by the pawl and ratchet, the latter device thusserving not to propellant simply to detain or hold the carrier inposition under certain conditions.

My present invention is also directrd to means whereby the pawl may,when desired, be disengaged from the ratchet, so as to permit it to `bemoved back again into the holder far enough to retract the holder whennot required i'or use. Itis also directed to means whereby the lead maybe both advanced and retracted step by step, my improvement rin thisdirection being mainly characterized by the employment, in connectionwith a double pawlon the lead-carrier, of a double ratchet or twooppositely-inclined lines of ratchetteeth, with either of which thelead-carrier pawl can be brought into engagementthrongh theinstrumentality of the reciprocating follower-tube attached to andmoving with the pressure-cap, and adapted also to havea movement ot'partial rotation for the purpose of pressing and holding the pawlagainst one or 'the other of the rows or lines ot' teeth, as desired.

The nature of my invention and the manner the other side.

(No model.)

in which the same is or'may be carried into effect will be understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an enlargedlongitudinal central section of a holder embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a like sectional elevation of the holder turned so as to exposeclearly the ratchet-andpawl arrangement. Fig. 3 is a cross-section online 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5represents the lead-carrier provided with double detent or spring pawl.

The case or sheath A is made inthe usual way, and its tip a ispreferably removable, so that it can be takenoft' when it is desired toinsert the lead into the lead-carrier. When in place on the sheath itcompresses the jaws or spring-strips b, which are fast to the sheath orto some part attached thereto, and serves to support the point ot'thelead. In this case the jaws are a prolongation ot' the ratchet-tubeB. This tube is placed concentrically within the sheath A, and is rmlyunited therewith by front and rear washers, c. It is slotted longitudinally, and the edges of the slot are formed of ratchet-teeth l e,which project toward one another, those, d, on'one side-being inclinedin an opposite direction to those, c, on The slot is of considerablewidth, sufficient to permit the double pawl (hereinafter referred to) toclear the one ratchet 'pawl g oi' the lead-carrier E. This 1ead-car rieris made, as usual, with a socket for the lead, and it has an expandedspringrear end which fits closely and with some friction thepropelling-tube C, within which the carrier is contained. When thecarrier is in place in the propelling-tube the double spring-pawl whichit carries is outside of the tube and in a position where it may bebrought into e11- gagement with either one of the ratchets of theratchet-tube. In order to permit ot' this adjustment, the propellingtubeis made capable of a movement of partial rotation-say about aquarter-turn. When turned to one extreme it will carry the pawlintoengagement with ratchet d, and when the parts are in this position aback-and-forth movement of the propelling-tube will cause the carrier toadvance step by step. The frictional contact between the propeller-tubeand the carrier is sucient to cause the two to move together when thefollowertubeis pushed forward, the pawl riding over the teeth d andpermitting this movement. When, however, pressure on the propeller isremoved and the spring is permitted to retract it, the carrier will notpartake of this movement, inasmuch as the pawl will engage the ratchetd. When the propeller is rotated to theotherextreme, so as to bring thecarrier-pawl into contact with the opposite ratchet, e, the action isreversed. The carrier moves back with the propelling-tube, but isprevented from advancing by reason of the engagement ot' the pawl withthe rearwardlyinclined teeth of the ratchet. In this way I am enabled toeither advance or retract the lead at pleasure, in each case by apawland ratchet or step-by-step movement.

In order to hold the propelling-tube in either one of the two portionsto whichit may be turned without interfering with its longitudinalreciprocations, various devices may be employed. One convenientinstrumentality is shown in the drawings,consisting of a springstrip, h,on or forming part ot the ratchettube, which is provided with a roundedor beveled protnberance or stud, t', adapted to enter whicheverone ot'the two slots or grooves j in the propeller-tube may be brought oppositeto it. 'lhese slots or groovesj are of' a length at least equal to thatof the longitudinal movement ot' the propeller-tube, and are so placedthat when the tube is partly rotated to the extreme in either directionone or the other ot' them will register with the springguide and holdingstud or knob t'. The propelling-tube is held in place in the pencil by ateat or stud, 7c, which projects from it into a slot, l, in thestationery ratchet-tube. This slot has a length at least equal to thatotl the longitudinal movement ot' the tube and a width equal to theextent to which the propelling-tube can be rotated.

I have set forth what I believe to be, on the whole, the best embodimentof my invention. I do not desire, however, to be restricted to thespecific instrumentalities herein described and illustrated, inasmuch asthe same may be varied in many respects without departure from myinvention.

What I claim, and desire to ters Paten t, is-

1. The combination,with the sheath or case and stationary ratchet, ofthe reciprocatory propelling-tube, the lead-carrier contained thereinand moved thereby, and the pawl or detent attached to the carrier, andacting in connec tion with the ratchet to retain the carrier in positionduring the return movement of the follower-tube.

2. 'Ihe combination of the case or sheath and ratchet connectedtherewith, the reciprocating propelling-tube, the lead-carrier containedtherein, and provided with a retaining pawl or detent to engage theratchet, the pressure-cap, and the retracting-spring, substantially asand for thepurposes hereiubefore set forth.

3. The combination, with the case or sheath and a retaining-ratchetconnected therewith, ofthe lead-carrier and its pawl or detent, and thereciprocatory propelling-tube, adapted to have a movement of partialrotation for the purpose of throwing the pawl into 0r out of engagementwith its ratchet.

4. The combination, with the pencil case or sheath and the doubleratchet connected therewith, of the lead-carrier and its double pawl,and the reciprocatory propelling-tube containing,r the lead-carrier andadapted to have a movement of partial rotation for the purpose ot'bringing the carrier-pawl into engagement with one or the other of theratchets on the ratchet-tube, substantially as and for the purposeshereiubefore set forth.

5. The case or sheath anddouble retainingratchet connected therewith, incombination with the lead-carrier and its double pawl, the reciprocatorypropelling-tube adapted to have a movement ot partial rotation, and alocking device for maintaining the said tube in either one of thepositions to which it may be brought by rotary movement, substantiallyas and t'or the purposes hereiubefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day ot' March,1882.

JOSEPH HOFFMAN.

lsecure by Let- Witnesses a O. S. BRAISTED, JoF. W. SWAINE.

